Humidifier



Nov. 26, 1935. P. A; wEYL. 2,022,394

y HUMIDIFIER Filed' sept. 25, 195s 2 sheets-sheet 1 INVENTQR 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 P. A. wEYL HUMIDIFIER Filed Sept. 25, 1953 N m m f .D. 0 if; 1 r7. al. d 4 M f y Mr d 5 ZM 8 N 2 f K 4 f/S u Q www w j No1-f. 26,

ATTORNEY/g lPatented Nov. 26, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 8 Claims.

The invention relates to humidiiiers and refers more particularly to humidifiers for use with warm air furnaces.

The invention h-as for 4one of its objects to provide a construction of humidifier which allows the free flow ofthe warm air through the warm air furnace and which is efficient in operation. Another object is to provide a construction of humidifier which may be readily installed in a warm air furnace. A further object is to provide improved means for controlling the operation of the humidifier to thereby secure proper relative humidity in the room or rooms heated by the These and other objects of the invention will become apparent from the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which u Figure 1 is a perspective view, partly broken away, showing a humidifier embodying my invention and installed in a warm air furnace;

Figure 2 is a vertic-al section therethrough;

Figure 3 is also a vertical section illustrating the means for controlling the operation of the humidiers;

Figure 4 is a View similar to Figure 2, showing another embodiment of my invention;

Figures 5 and 6 are sectional views showing other embodiments of my invention.

Referring to Figures 1, 2, and 3, the humidifier showing an embodiment of my invention is installed in a warm air furnace having the combustion chamber I, the casing 2, the warm air chamber 3 enclosed between the casing and the top of the combustion chamber, and suitable ducts or outlets il communicating with the warm air chamber and adapted to conduct the warm air therefrom. The combustion chamber I comprises the dome 5 and the annulus 6 encircling and spaced from the dome and forming therebetween the vertical warm air passageway 1. The annulus is also spaced from the casing to form the second vertic-al warm air passageway 8.

The humidifier comprises the upwardly .opening reservoirs 9 which are preferably channelshaped and which are adapted to receive liquid, such as water, from the supply main I 0. The

humidifier also comprises the wicks I I which are preferably formed of suitable material, such'as asbestos, which is constructed so that the liquid moves upwardly therethrough by reason of capillary attraction, but does not appreciably spread or move longitudinally therethrough. There is reservoir with a wick substantially co-extensive with and secured to each side wall of the reservoir. As shown, each wick is secured to a side wall by providing the latter with upstanding apertured lugs I2 through which and the adjacent wick suitable clips are passed. I3 is a pipe 5 between adjacent ends of the reservoirs and communicating with the reservoirs and I4 is a pipe connecting into the pipe I3 and extending through an .opening in the casing 2 to the valve I5 which controls the passage of the liquid 10 through these pipes to the reservoirs.

The reservoirs 9 are arcuate or semi-circular and the cross sectional dimensions of the reservoirs and the wicks secured thereto are such that they may be readily installed within the warm air furnace by inserting the same through one of the ducts 4, after which the pipe I3 may be coupled to the reservoirs and then the pipe I4 may be coupled to the pipe I3. These'reservoirs are preferably formed of cast metal, such as aluminum, and they are provided with the depending legs I6 at their inner sides which are adapted to engage the inner side wall of the annulus 6 to thereby position the reservoirs in proper relation upon and more particularly in registration with the annulus. It will be noted that the humidifier allows the free fiow of the warm air through the passageways 'I and 8 and that the columns of warm air Contact with both of the wicks of'each reservoir to pick up the 30 liquid prior to passage of the warm air from the warm air chamber.

For the purpose of controlling the operation ,of the humidifier to thereby secure the desired relative humidity in the room or rooms heated by the furnace, I preferably form each wick so that its lower edge Il is variably spaced from the bottom of the reservoir and I also make the valve I5 adjustable to maintain the liquid in the reservoir at one of a number of different prede- 40 termined heights. As shown, each wick is tapered and has its upper edge I8 extending substantially parallel to the bottom of the reservoir and its lower edge II from one end to the other increasingly spaced from the bottom of the reser- Voir. By making the valve I5 so that it will maintain the liquid in the reservoir at one of a number of different predetermined heights, it is apparent that the wick action is varied.

The valve I5 comprises the body I9 having the 50 vertical inlet chamber 20 and the adjacent vertical outlet chamber 2|. The inlet chamber 2t communicates at its lower end with the pipe I4 and it is provided in its upper'portion with the sight feed opening. 22. The outlet chamber is provided in its lower portion with the sight feed opening 23 below which a suitable drain pipe 24 connects into the outlet chamber. 25 are vertically spaced horizontal passageways between the inlet and outlet chambers and 26 are suitable valves for controlling these passageways, these valves being independently operable toI control the height of the liquid in the inlet chamber at which it will overflow into the outlet chamber. As a consequence, these valves control the height of the liquid in the reservoirs 9. 20', and 2l are open passageways, which are inclined to the horizontal with the passageway 20' at a higher level than the passageway 2l' and the uppermost portion of the passageway 2E located slightly below the upper edges of the reservoirs il. The passageway 2D is located in the outer wall of the inlet chamber 20 and communicates with the air, while the passageway 2| is located in the wall between the inlet chamber 20 and the outlet chamber 2i. By reason of these open passageways the water may, in the event that the passageways 25 are clogged up, iirst overflow through the passageway 2| into the outlet chamber 2l, or, in the event that this passageway 2l is also clogged, overflow through the passageway 2S', thereby avoiding overflowing the reservoirs 9. The passageway il is located above the upper passageway 25, so that in normal operation the two passageways 25 and the passageway 2l control the height of the liquid in the reservoirs to secure the desired wick action. 21 and 28 are drip iittings respectively in the inlet and outlet chambers and above the sight openings of these chambers. These dripfittings have downwardly tapered lower ends and are formed with the restricted axial passageways 29 and 3D, respectively, theconstruction of each tting being such that the liquid passing therethrough passes axially through and clears the chambers and may be readily seen through the sight openings. 3| is the pipe leading from the main I to the Valve and 32 is a needle valve which controls the flow of the liquid and which may be adjusted so that the proper predetermined level of liquid may be maintained in the reservoirs 9 and at the same time the overilow of the liquid into the outlet chamber may be maintained very small.

In the modification shown in Figure 4, the warm air furnace has the sheet metal combustion chamber 36 between which and the casing is located the vertical warm air passageway. In this construction the reservoirs 34, which are formed in the same manner as the reservoirs 9, are supported upon the top of the combustion chamber by the legs 35 corresponding to the legs i6. These legs have relatively small areas of contact with the top of the combustion chamber, so that objectionable heat transmission from the latter is avoided. For the purpose of maintaining the reservoirs upright in this construction, another pipe 35 is added extending between and connecting into the ends of the reservoirs opposite the inlet pipe.

Figures and 6 show modifications in which the legs of the reservoirs, instead of being integral therewith, are formed separately therefrom and secured thereto.

Referring to Figure 5, 3'! is the reservoir formed in the same manner as a reservoir 9 and 38 are the wicks secured to the side walls of this reservoir in the same manner as the wicks Il. The legs 39 are formed separately from the reservoir and secured thereto, the leg, as shown,

being an integral part of the sheet metal strip 4E). This strip has its edges crimped over the upper edges of the reservoir intermediate the points of attachment of the wicks to the side walls of the reservoir and embraces the reservoir and is provided with the return-bent extension forming the leg.

Referring to Figure 6, the pair of spaced legs 4| is provided. Both of these legs are integral with the sheet metal strip :i2 having its edges 10 crimped over the upper edges of the reservoir intermediate the pointsof attachment of the wicks to the reservoir. The legs are formed of return-bent extensions of the strip and these legs may be spaced a sufiicient distance apart to embrace the annulus of the combustion chamber.

What I claim as my invention is:

l. The combination with the warm air chamber and combustion chamber of a warm air furnace, of a humidier comprising a liquid receiving reservoir within said warm air chamber and upon said combustion chamber, a wick extending within said reservoir and having its lower edge variably spaced from the bottom of said reservoir, and means for selectively maintaining the liquid in said reservoir at one of a number of different heights.

2. The combination with the warm air chamber, combustion chamber and warm air passageway at a side of the combustion chamber of a warm air furnace, of a humidier comprising arcuate liquid receiving reservoirs within said warm air chamber and upon said combustion chamber, wicks exnding within said reservoirs and having portions of theirV lower edges spaced at diierent distances from the bottoms of said reservoirs, and means for selectively maintaining the liquid in said reservoirs at one of a number .of different heights.

3. The combination with the warm air cham- 40 ber and combustion chamber of a warm air furnace, of a humidier comprising a liquid receiving reservoir within said warm air chamber and upon said combustion chamber, a wick extending within said reservoir and having its lower edge from one end to the other increasingly spaced from the bottom of said reservoir, and adjustable means for selectively maintaining the liquid in said reservoir at one of a number of different heights.

4. The combination with the warm air charnber and combustion chamber of a warm air furnace, of a humidifier comprising a reservoir within said warm air chamber and upon said combustion chamber, and a vertically tapered wick extending within said reservoir and having its lower edge from one end to the other increasingly spaced from the bottom of said reservoir, and regulating means having an inlet chamber communicating with the lower portion of said reservoir, an outlet chamber, and vertically spaced valve controlled passageways between said chambers, and means forming the communication between said inlet chamber and reservo-ir, said means opening into said inlet chamber and reservoir at substantially the same level and said passageways being above said level and below the upper edge oi said reservoir.

5. The combination with a warm air passageway of a warm air furnace, of a humidier comprising a liquid receiving reservoir, a wick extending within said reservoir and positioned for contact by the warm air passing through said passageway, said wick having its lower edge variably spaced from the bottom of said reservoir,

CII

and regulating means having an inlet chamber, a liquid conducting means communicating with said reservoir near its bottom and with said inlet chamber at substantially the level of communication with said reservoir, vertically spaced passageways opening into said inlet chamber, said passageways being above said level and below the upper edge of said reservoir, and means for selectively closing said passageways.

6. The combination with a Warm air passageway of a warm air furnace, of a humidifier comprising a liquid receiving reservoir, a wick extending within said reservoir and positioned for contact by the warm air passing through said passageways and having its lower edge variably spaced from the bottom of said reservoir, regulating means having an inlet chamber formed with a sight opening in its upper portion, liquid conducting means communicating with said reservoir near its bottom and with said inlet chamber at substantially the same level as the communication with said reservoir, an outlet chamber formed with a sight opening in its lower portion, vertically spaced valve controlled passageways between said chambers, said passageways being above said level and below the upper edge of said reservoir, and means controlling the flow of the liquid into said inlet chamber above its sight opening.

7. The combination with a warm air passageway of a warm air furnace, of a humidifier comprising a liquid receiving reservoir, a wick extending within said reservoir and positioned for contact by the warm air passing through said passageway, said wick having its lower edge variably spaced from the bottom of said reservoir, and regulating means having an inlet chamber, liquid conducting means communicating with said reservoir near its bottom and with said inlet chamber at substantially the same level as the communication with said reservoir, vertically spaced valve controlled passageways opening into said inlet chamber, and an open overow passageway above said first mentioned passageways and opening into said inlet chamber, all of said passageways being adapted for'the passage of liquid from said inlet chamber and being located above said level and below the upper edge of said reservoir.

8. The combination with a warm air passageway of a warm air furnace, of a humidifier comprising a liquid receivingreservoir, a wick extending within said reservoir and positioned for contact by the warm air passing through said passageway, said wick having its lower edge variably spaced from the bottom of said reservoir, and means for selectively maintaining the liquid in said reservoir at one of a plurality of different heights.

PIERCE A. WEYL. 

